3 Musketiers
Encyclopedia
3 Musketiers is a Dutch musical, also known as 3 Musketiere (German), 3 Musketeers (English) and A 3 Testőr (Hungarian) written by Ferdi Bolland and Rob Bolland. The story is based on Alexandre Dumas, père
's novel The Three Musketeers
. It premiered in Rotterdam
in 2003 starring Bastiaan Ragas
as d'Artagnan
and Pia Douwes
as Milady de Winter
.
in 2005) was later mounted, also starring Pia Douwes
. A Hungarian production was mounted in 2006.
The original Dutch production featured minimalist sets and abstract costumes by Yan Tax, which were not true to the period of the piece, but gave a feeling of the character and an impression of the era. For example, Milady De Winter's costumes were based mainly in leather and lace, whereas Anna wore spectacularly jeweled gowns, including a dress made entirely from real peacock feathers.
The German productions used the same costumes with some new additions—the most notable change being that Milady's costume for Where did that summer go? was changed from a black leather coat and dishevelled hair to a long black velvet gown and her hair down and curly. The sets for the German productions were realistic and true to the period of the piece and gave an interesting contrast with the modern costume styles. Following in the tradition of Elisabeth
, new songs were added for each new production.
in 1626, d'Artagnan
practices duelling on his parents' farm before his sick father arrives and reminds him that duelling has been forbidden by the King. D'Artagnan's father reminisces about his days as one of the King's musketeers - a position to which d'Artagnan aspires. D'Artagnan reflects on his aged Father's condition (Father) before deciding to leave for Paris
to try to become a Musketeer (Today Is The Day).
At an inn outside Paris, the Catholic and Protestant villagers reflect on their shared hate of one another (Catholic
and Huguenot
) while the captain of the Cardinal Guard, Rochefort, waits with his men for the arrival of Milady de Winter
, who has returned from England where she has been spying on the English Court. Milady arrives, excited to be back in France and dreams of being reunited with her one true love (Milady Is Back).
Rochefort instructs Milady that she must remain in the inn and not continue to Paris since she was exiled from France some 25 years previously and cannot travel without documentation from the Cardinal. D'Artagnan arrives at the inn and gets into a duel with Rochefort and wins, before carrying on his journey to Paris. Three of the King's Musketeers (Athos
, Porthos
and Aramis
) reflect on their shared love and hate for Paris, just as d'Artagnan arrives in the city. The Queen's handmaiden, Constance, watches the sun rise over the city as the whores and traders of the city go about their routine (Paris).
Constance and d'Artagnan meet on the streets of the city, before d'Artagnan manages to get into arguments with Athos, Porthos and Aramis, who challenge him to a duel the following morning. At the cathedral, Cardinal Richelieu prays, displaying his absolute faith (O Lord). Queen Anna arrives and is advised by Richelieu to use her influence on the King to instigate a holy war against the Protestant church. The King arrives and the merits of war are discussed, with suggestion that the King uses Anna as a political pawn to gain favour from her family in the Spanish court (War or no war).
The following morning, d'Artagnan arrives for his duel, as do the three musketeers, only to be interrupted by Rochefort and his men. The musketeers and d'Artagnan win a fight against Rochefort and the Cardinal Guard and they agree to take d'Artagnan to meet with the King (One for all and all for one).
At the Cathedral, Milady arrives to speak with Richelieu, telling him that she has seen the British Prime Minister Lord Buckingham in Paris and that, in exchange for Richelieu reversing her exile, she will spy on him. Richelieu reveals a brand on Milady's shoulder and reminds her that she is in his power and always will be. He reveals that she was branded for having an affair with a priest and that she will always be in debt to the Church. As Richelieu leaves, Milady reflects on her situation and that she was actually raped by a priest and that the Church blamed her. Anna reflects on her arranged marriage to the king and Constance dreams of d'Artagnan (Who can live without love?).
Athos reveals to d'Artagnan that he was once in love with a beautiful young woman whom he married. She was so pure that she insisted they always make love in the dark, until one evening in the moonlight, he found a brand on her shoulder, revealing her to be a whore and thief and had her exiled from the country and never saw her again. Lord Buckingham meets with Anna and it is revealed that they are former lovers. She gives him a necklace from the Crown Jewels
and makes him promise that he won't declare war on England. Milady sees the exchange and proceeds to try to steal the necklace. D'Artagnan protects Lord Buckingham and is seen by Constance, who finally reveals her name to him (Constance) and they sleep together (Tonight).
Milady sneaks into Buckingham's chambers and steels the box containing the necklace before she is recognised by Buckingham who recognises her as the widow of his friend, Lord de Winter. Milady escapes and takes the box to the Cardinal, who finds that it is empty. Milady expresses her hatred of men (Men) and heads to the Royal Hunt, in disguise, where Richelieu suggests that the King hosts a ball and that he and the Queen wear the full crown jewels (Hunt).
The first act ends with great uncertainty but with d'Artagnan swearing to go to England and fetch the necklace from Buckingham for the Queen (Fight).
D'Artagnan crosses to England and meets Lord Buckingham, obtaining the necklace. Milady goes to the docks and waits for d'Artagnan to return to France, at which point she attempts to seduce him and take the necklace, but she fails. She explains this to the Cardinal, who tells her that she has one last chance to get hold of the necklace or he will never remove her stigma. As Milady leaves to attempt to find d'Artagnan, Richelieu is overwhelmed by desires of the flesh and their conflict with his faith (Not Made Of Stone).
At the Palace, Anna and the King discuss their marriage. She pleads with him to show her the same love she has shown him (Unshared Sorrow). Constance and d'Artagnan separately sing of their love for one another as he returns to Paris (All I Ever Want).
Constance is attacked by Milady and her men and captured so that they can blackmail d'Artagnan into giving the necklace to them. At La Rochelle, Richelieu prepares for war (Believe Me) as the Musketeers try to find d'Artagnan, which they eventually do, disguised as three monks. The Musketeers reveal to d'Artagnan that Constance has been kidnapped and that they must go to the convent in which she is imprisoned. In the dungeons of the convent, Constance dreams of d'Artagnan rescuing her (God Smiled On Us) before Milady arrives, disguised as a nun and poisons Constance.
As Constance lies dying, Milady reveals how years of heartache have turned her heart to stone and have destroyed her faith. D'Artagnan and the Musketeers arrive and Milady attempts to escape. Athos reveals that she is his ex-wife and flees to the convent tower. Milady follows Athos and tells him that she has waited 25 years to see him and still loves him more than ever and that everything she has done has been to try to get Richelieu to exonerate her so that she can be with Athos once more (Where did that summer go?).
Athos, overcome with emotion, allows Porthos and Aramis to decide the punishment for Milady - which they agree should be death. As Athos draws his sword, Milady throws herself to her death from the tower. At the Palace, the Ball has begun and d'Artagnan arrives just in time to give the Queen her jewels, reveal the murder of Constance and the plottings of Richelieu. As Richelieu and his men are arrested, the King and Queen are united and plan to have children at last. D'Artagnan goes to the grave of his father and reflects on his new life as a Musketeer.
Alexandre Dumas, père
Alexandre Dumas, , born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie was a French writer, best known for his historical novels of high adventure which have made him one of the most widely read French authors in the world...
's novel The Three Musketeers
The Three Musketeers
The Three Musketeers is a novel by Alexandre Dumas, first serialized in March–July 1844. Set in the 17th century, it recounts the adventures of a young man named d'Artagnan after he leaves home to travel to Paris, to join the Musketeers of the Guard...
. It premiered in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
in 2003 starring Bastiaan Ragas
Bastiaan Ragas
Bastiaan Johannes Ragas is a Dutch singer and actor. Born in Lisse, he was the youngest of three brothers. Ragas learnt piano and guitar at school. He also participated and traveled with the international musical group Up With People during their 1989-1990 tour...
as d'Artagnan
D'Artagnan
Charles Ogier de Batz de Castelmore, Comte d'Artagnan served Louis XIV as captain of the Musketeers of the Guard and died at the Siege of Maastricht in the Franco-Dutch War. A fictionalized account of his life by Gatien de Courtilz de Sandras formed the basis for the d'Artagnan Romances of...
and Pia Douwes
Pia Douwes
Pia Douwes is a Dutch musical theatre actress who is extremly successful in Europe.- Biography :Douwes was born in Amsterdam, North Holland as Petronella Irene Allegonda Douwes, to an arts dealer and a social worker and the grandniece of Doris Day...
as Milady de Winter
Milady de Winter
Milady Clarick de Winter, often referred to as simply Milady, is a fictional character in the novel The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, père. She acts as a spy for Cardinal Richelieu and is one of the chief antagonists of the story....
.
Productions
A German production (opening in BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in 2005) was later mounted, also starring Pia Douwes
Pia Douwes
Pia Douwes is a Dutch musical theatre actress who is extremly successful in Europe.- Biography :Douwes was born in Amsterdam, North Holland as Petronella Irene Allegonda Douwes, to an arts dealer and a social worker and the grandniece of Doris Day...
. A Hungarian production was mounted in 2006.
The original Dutch production featured minimalist sets and abstract costumes by Yan Tax, which were not true to the period of the piece, but gave a feeling of the character and an impression of the era. For example, Milady De Winter's costumes were based mainly in leather and lace, whereas Anna wore spectacularly jeweled gowns, including a dress made entirely from real peacock feathers.
The German productions used the same costumes with some new additions—the most notable change being that Milady's costume for Where did that summer go? was changed from a black leather coat and dishevelled hair to a long black velvet gown and her hair down and curly. The sets for the German productions were realistic and true to the period of the piece and gave an interesting contrast with the modern costume styles. Following in the tradition of Elisabeth
Elisabeth (musical)
Elisabeth is a Viennese, German-language musical commissioned by the Vereinigte Bühnen Wien , with book/lyrics by Michael Kunze and music by Sylvester Levay. It portrays the life and death of the Empress consort of Austria, Elisabeth of Bavaria, wife of Emperor Franz Joseph I...
, new songs were added for each new production.
Synopsis
Beginning in GasconyGascony
Gascony is an area of southwest France that was part of the "Province of Guyenne and Gascony" prior to the French Revolution. The region is vaguely defined and the distinction between Guyenne and Gascony is unclear; sometimes they are considered to overlap, and sometimes Gascony is considered a...
in 1626, d'Artagnan
D'Artagnan
Charles Ogier de Batz de Castelmore, Comte d'Artagnan served Louis XIV as captain of the Musketeers of the Guard and died at the Siege of Maastricht in the Franco-Dutch War. A fictionalized account of his life by Gatien de Courtilz de Sandras formed the basis for the d'Artagnan Romances of...
practices duelling on his parents' farm before his sick father arrives and reminds him that duelling has been forbidden by the King. D'Artagnan's father reminisces about his days as one of the King's musketeers - a position to which d'Artagnan aspires. D'Artagnan reflects on his aged Father's condition (Father) before deciding to leave for Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to try to become a Musketeer (Today Is The Day).
At an inn outside Paris, the Catholic and Protestant villagers reflect on their shared hate of one another (Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
and Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
) while the captain of the Cardinal Guard, Rochefort, waits with his men for the arrival of Milady de Winter
Milady de Winter
Milady Clarick de Winter, often referred to as simply Milady, is a fictional character in the novel The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, père. She acts as a spy for Cardinal Richelieu and is one of the chief antagonists of the story....
, who has returned from England where she has been spying on the English Court. Milady arrives, excited to be back in France and dreams of being reunited with her one true love (Milady Is Back).
Rochefort instructs Milady that she must remain in the inn and not continue to Paris since she was exiled from France some 25 years previously and cannot travel without documentation from the Cardinal. D'Artagnan arrives at the inn and gets into a duel with Rochefort and wins, before carrying on his journey to Paris. Three of the King's Musketeers (Athos
Athos (fictional character)
Olivier d'Athos de la Fère, Comte de la Fère is a fictional character, a Musketeer of the Guard in the novels The Three Musketeers, Twenty Years After, and The Vicomte de Bragelonne by Alexandre Dumas, père....
, Porthos
Porthos
Porthos, Baron du Vallon de Bracieux de Pierrefonds is a fictional character in the novels The Three Musketeers, Twenty Years After and The Vicomte de Bragelonne by Alexandre Dumas, père. He and the other two musketeers Athos and Aramis are friends of the novel's protagonist, d'Artagnan...
and Aramis
Aramis
C. René d'Aramis de Vannes is a fictional character in the novels The Three Musketeers, Twenty Years After and The Vicomte de Bragelonne by Alexandre Dumas, père...
) reflect on their shared love and hate for Paris, just as d'Artagnan arrives in the city. The Queen's handmaiden, Constance, watches the sun rise over the city as the whores and traders of the city go about their routine (Paris).
Constance and d'Artagnan meet on the streets of the city, before d'Artagnan manages to get into arguments with Athos, Porthos and Aramis, who challenge him to a duel the following morning. At the cathedral, Cardinal Richelieu prays, displaying his absolute faith (O Lord). Queen Anna arrives and is advised by Richelieu to use her influence on the King to instigate a holy war against the Protestant church. The King arrives and the merits of war are discussed, with suggestion that the King uses Anna as a political pawn to gain favour from her family in the Spanish court (War or no war).
The following morning, d'Artagnan arrives for his duel, as do the three musketeers, only to be interrupted by Rochefort and his men. The musketeers and d'Artagnan win a fight against Rochefort and the Cardinal Guard and they agree to take d'Artagnan to meet with the King (One for all and all for one).
At the Cathedral, Milady arrives to speak with Richelieu, telling him that she has seen the British Prime Minister Lord Buckingham in Paris and that, in exchange for Richelieu reversing her exile, she will spy on him. Richelieu reveals a brand on Milady's shoulder and reminds her that she is in his power and always will be. He reveals that she was branded for having an affair with a priest and that she will always be in debt to the Church. As Richelieu leaves, Milady reflects on her situation and that she was actually raped by a priest and that the Church blamed her. Anna reflects on her arranged marriage to the king and Constance dreams of d'Artagnan (Who can live without love?).
Athos reveals to d'Artagnan that he was once in love with a beautiful young woman whom he married. She was so pure that she insisted they always make love in the dark, until one evening in the moonlight, he found a brand on her shoulder, revealing her to be a whore and thief and had her exiled from the country and never saw her again. Lord Buckingham meets with Anna and it is revealed that they are former lovers. She gives him a necklace from the Crown Jewels
Crown jewels
Crown jewels are jewels or artifacts of the reigning royal family of their respective country. They belong to monarchs and are passed to the next sovereign to symbolize the right to rule. They may include crowns, sceptres, orbs, swords, rings, and other objects...
and makes him promise that he won't declare war on England. Milady sees the exchange and proceeds to try to steal the necklace. D'Artagnan protects Lord Buckingham and is seen by Constance, who finally reveals her name to him (Constance) and they sleep together (Tonight).
Milady sneaks into Buckingham's chambers and steels the box containing the necklace before she is recognised by Buckingham who recognises her as the widow of his friend, Lord de Winter. Milady escapes and takes the box to the Cardinal, who finds that it is empty. Milady expresses her hatred of men (Men) and heads to the Royal Hunt, in disguise, where Richelieu suggests that the King hosts a ball and that he and the Queen wear the full crown jewels (Hunt).
The first act ends with great uncertainty but with d'Artagnan swearing to go to England and fetch the necklace from Buckingham for the Queen (Fight).
D'Artagnan crosses to England and meets Lord Buckingham, obtaining the necklace. Milady goes to the docks and waits for d'Artagnan to return to France, at which point she attempts to seduce him and take the necklace, but she fails. She explains this to the Cardinal, who tells her that she has one last chance to get hold of the necklace or he will never remove her stigma. As Milady leaves to attempt to find d'Artagnan, Richelieu is overwhelmed by desires of the flesh and their conflict with his faith (Not Made Of Stone).
At the Palace, Anna and the King discuss their marriage. She pleads with him to show her the same love she has shown him (Unshared Sorrow). Constance and d'Artagnan separately sing of their love for one another as he returns to Paris (All I Ever Want).
Constance is attacked by Milady and her men and captured so that they can blackmail d'Artagnan into giving the necklace to them. At La Rochelle, Richelieu prepares for war (Believe Me) as the Musketeers try to find d'Artagnan, which they eventually do, disguised as three monks. The Musketeers reveal to d'Artagnan that Constance has been kidnapped and that they must go to the convent in which she is imprisoned. In the dungeons of the convent, Constance dreams of d'Artagnan rescuing her (God Smiled On Us) before Milady arrives, disguised as a nun and poisons Constance.
As Constance lies dying, Milady reveals how years of heartache have turned her heart to stone and have destroyed her faith. D'Artagnan and the Musketeers arrive and Milady attempts to escape. Athos reveals that she is his ex-wife and flees to the convent tower. Milady follows Athos and tells him that she has waited 25 years to see him and still loves him more than ever and that everything she has done has been to try to get Richelieu to exonerate her so that she can be with Athos once more (Where did that summer go?).
Athos, overcome with emotion, allows Porthos and Aramis to decide the punishment for Milady - which they agree should be death. As Athos draws his sword, Milady throws herself to her death from the tower. At the Palace, the Ball has begun and d'Artagnan arrives just in time to give the Queen her jewels, reveal the murder of Constance and the plottings of Richelieu. As Richelieu and his men are arrested, the King and Queen are united and plan to have children at last. D'Artagnan goes to the grave of his father and reflects on his new life as a Musketeer.
List of Musical Numbers
- Prologue (Streetsinger - Not found in the original Dutch production)
- Nu/Heut ist der Tag ("Now"/"Today Is The Day" - d'Artagnan)
- Milady ist zurück ("Milady is back" - Milady - written for the German production)
- Katholiek en Hugenoot ("Catholic and Huguenots" - Chorus - Dutch production only)
- Parijs/Paris ("Paris" - Chorus)
- O Heer/O Herr ("Oh Lord" - Cardinal)
- Vader/Vater ("Father" - d'Artagnan)
- Mannen/Männer ("Men" - Milady and chorus)
- Een voor allen/Einer für alle ("All for One" - Athos, Porthos, Aramis, d'Artagnan)
- Liefde laat je nooit alleen ("Love will never leave your side" - Athos - Dutch and Hungarian productions only)
- Engel aus Kristall ("Crystal Angel" - Athos - German production only)
- Constance (d'Artagnan)
- Ik Ben Een Vrouw/Wer kann schon ohne Liebe sein ("I Am A Woman"/"Who Can Live Without Love?" - Milady, Anna and Constance)
- Jacht/Jagd ("Hunt" - Aristocracy)
- Deze Nacht ("Tonight" - Constance and d'Artagnan - Dutch and Hungarian productions only)
- Alles/Alles ("All I Ever Want" - d'Artagnan and Constance)
- Vecht ("Fight" - Full company - Dutch and Hungarian productions only)
- Einer für alle (Reprise) ("All for one" - German productions only)
- Prologue Act 2 (Streetsinger)
- Niet van Steen/Nicht Aus Stein ("Not Made Of Stone" - Cardinal)
- Twijfel/Kein Geteiltes Leid ("Doubt"/"Unshared Sorrow" - Anna)
- Knipoog van God/Gott lächelt uns zu ("A Wink From God"/"God Smiles On Us" - Constance)
- Geloof mij/Glaubt mir ("Believe Me" - Cardinal)
- Waar bleef die zomer?/Wo Ist Der Sommer? ("Where Did That Summer Go?" - Milady (Duet with Athos in later German productions)
- Vive Le Roi ("Long Live The King" - Company)